Train-order holder



(10/272 4. Wauy/zan .1. A. VAUGHAN TRAIN ORDER HOLDER Filed Feb. 5, 1926 June 15 1926.

Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TRAIN-ORDER HOLDER.

Application filed February 5, 1926. Serial No. 86,224.

This invention pertains to train-order holders and it has for its objects among others to provide an improved device of this character which shall obviate objections heretofore raised to the forms of such devices now in use and which shall at the same time be capable of manufacture at small cost, et strong and durable and most eflicient in use. j p

A device of this general character, to be most efiicient in use must be such that the hoop shall not only be readily removable from its handle, but shall be so held within the handle as to prevent turning of the loop, to the end that the hoop shall at all times be properly presented to the engineer, trainman or other person designated to take the order so that there shall be no impedimentto the quick and accurate passage of his arm through the hoop and the latter readily and. quickly withdrawn from its handle. I

Furthermore, the means for holding the order or message on or in the hoop must be such that while the order or message shall be effectually held it will not be so firmly grasped as to retard its ready and :quick withdrawal so that the hoop may be im{ mediately returned to the party presenting the order to the trainman.

These and other objects are attained by means of the peculiar construction of the device as will now be described, and the advantages thereof will be more particularly described and the novelty pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention, in its preferred form, is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification. and in which- Figure l is an elevation of a train-order holder with a portion of lhe handle broken away.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional View, with portions of the hook broken away, showing the clamp member also broken away and the shank portion of the hoop within the socket of the handle.

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a detail with portions broken away and parts in section showing the manner of holding the end of the hoop memher in posit-ion.

tical diameter of the hoop as will be best understood from Figure 1, and this enlarged portion is provided with a mortise or opening 3 therein to receive the tenon 4 on what may be termed the free end of the hoop, see Figures 1, 2 and 4. While by this construction the tenon will be frictionally held within the mortise, aided byxthe bending of the hoop, it may be further retained therein by glue, or other securing means.

The enlargement of'the end ofthe hoop in which themortise is formedis extended to form a short handle portion 5 as seen in Figures 1 and 2 which portion 5 is de-. signed to be removably engaged within a socket member 6, preferably of metal which in turn receives and has secured therewithin the end of the handle member 7 as" shown best in.Figure 2.. This handle may boot any desired length, in one piece or sectional as may be preferred or as circumstances may require. g

It is necessary that the hoop be capable of being quickly and easil withdrawn from the handle, but it is further desirable to have the connection between the handle and the hoop of such a nature that the hoop will be effectually held against rotation or partial rotation within the handle, in order that it may not he accidentally or otherwise placed in a position so that the arm of the trainman cannot be readily passed through the hoop. In order to accomplish this result I make the socket 6 of tubular polygonal form as seen in Figure 3 so that while the portion 5 has a bearing therein at all four corners it is held against any tendency to revolve or have any rotary movement within the socket. The manner in which this result is attained Will'be readily understood from Figures 2 and 3. Again, to insure ready insertion of the member 5 within the socket member the open end of the latter is flared outwardly upon all sides as seen at 8. The end of the member 5 within the socket member is shown as having a pointed end at 9, Figures 1 and 2, which bears against the adjacent square end of the handle member and serves further to steady the hoop against undue movements.

In order to hold the order or message on the hoop I provide a holder member 10 in the nature of a substantially fiat spring clamp as seen in Figures 1, 2 and 4:; this spring clamp is secured to the inner face of the hoop by any suitable means as for instance brads or the like 11, see Figures 1, 2 and l, the spring lying substantially flat against the adjacent portion of the hoop, the said clamp extending from the point of junction of the adjacent portion of the hoop with the portion 2 as shown, upward and its free end turned away from the hoop member as seen at 12 in Figure 1 in order that the order or message 13, shown by dotted lines in Figure 1, may be readily inserted beneath such end to be grasped by the clamp.

In order that the message or other paper be not too firmly grasped by the clamp and to facilitate easy removal by the train hand the clamp member 10 is normally held out of direct contact with the adjacent surface of the hoop as seen at 14, and this result may be attained by either forming the member 10 with a slight inward bend, that is in toward the centre of the hoop, or by removing a little of the adjacent surface of the hoop, as will be readily understood.

The mode of use is quite similar to this class of devices; the hoop is engaged ith the handle, the message or paper 13 is engaged beneath the clamp 10 and the party whose duty it is to handle the device stands atthe side of the track and as the train approaches he so positions the hoop that the trainman can readily run his hand through the loop and in that way receive the paper, the hoop being automatically disengaged from the handle, the latter being retained by the person on the ground. The trainman once removes the paper from the hoop and throws the latter back to the party on the ground to be again used when required.

Modifications in proportion of parts and other details may be resorted to without departing from the spirit oi" the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages; for instance, the hoop may not necessarily be formed with mortise and tenon, but the ends may be held in a variety of ways.

What is claimed as new is 1. $1 train-order holder embodying a hoop with means for holding a paper thereon, and a handle for the hoop, the handle having a tubular socket polygonal in cross section and the hoop having a portion polygonal in cross section removably engaged in said socket and held against rotation therein.

2. A train-order holder comprising a hoop with an extension rectangular in cross sec: tion, and a handle having a tubular socket of rectangular cross section to loosely receive said extension, to permit of ready re moval of the hoop but holding the same against revolution relatively to the handle.

3. In a train-order holder a hoop formed of a single piece of material bent into hoop form and having an integral extension to connect with a handle, one end of the hoop member being engaged within an opening in the adjacent portion in proximity to the junction of the extension with the hoop proper.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN A. VAUGHAN. 

